Milestone granularity
Support for nested milestones and subdeliverables so invoices can reflect phased work within larger production elements and campaign stages.
Using progress invoices aligns payments with work completed, reduces disputes, and provides clear milestone accounting for campaigns and production schedules, improving cash management and client transparency.
An account manager prepares milestone descriptions, ties deliverables to client statements of work, and secures client approvals. They coordinate line-item detail with production and media-buy teams to ensure the invoice reflects actual campaign progress and agreed billing terms.
A finance controller reviews progress invoices for compliance with contract terms, applies retainage rules, performs revenue recognition checks, and coordinates with AP to schedule payments in accordance with internal controls and audit requirements.
Progress invoices are used by roles that manage budgets, deliverables, or client billing across campaigns and productions.
These users collaborate to ensure invoices reflect agreed milestones, contractual terms, and documented approvals before payment.
Support for nested milestones and subdeliverables so invoices can reflect phased work within larger production elements and campaign stages.
Ability to include third-party vendor costs as line items with attachments and PO references to streamline reimbursements and reconciliations.
Automatic tax calculations by jurisdiction for media buys, production services, and talent payments to ensure accurate amounts.
Bi-directional syncing with accounting systems to reduce manual data entry and speed recognition of billed revenue.
Dashboards that surface billed versus collected amounts, aging by milestone, and forecasted cashflow by campaign.
Hierarchical permissions that restrict line-item edits and require approver sign-off for high-value invoices.
Structured fields for milestone name, percent complete, scheduled date, and the amount due, allowing clear visibility of which work has been completed and billed.
Capability to attach proofs such as call sheets, delivery receipts, media buy confirmations, and vendor invoices so approvers can verify charge validity quickly.
Built-in calculations for retainage, deposits, and staged billings so invoices reflect contract terms and automatically compute remaining balances.
Integrated eSignature for approvers to sign electronically, preserving timestamps and audit trails while accelerating approval and payment cycles.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Approval Sequence | Two-step |
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Attachment Requirement | Required |
| Integration Endpoint | Accounting API |
| Retention Period | 7 years |
Ensure users have supported browsers or native apps and up-to-date security settings to access invoice workflows securely.
Regularly update browser and app versions, enforce secure network connections, and verify SSO or multi-factor authentication compatibility to maintain reliable access across teams and clients.
A production company invoices for 40 percent completion after principal photography concludes.
Resulting in a clear partial payment and updated project cashflow for the final edit phase.
An advertising agency issues a progress invoice after creative deliverables and media buy slots are secured.
Leading to timely client payment that funds subsequent flight adjustments and vendor payments.
| Criteria for eSignature Capability Comparison | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partial invoice support | |||
| Milestone billing templates | |||
| Mobile signing | |||
| SAML single sign-on |
Contract start date
Date deliverable met
Date invoice was sent
Client approval timeframe
Net terms or scheduled date
| Pricing Tier Comparison by Provider | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | HelloSign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level plan name | Business | Personal | Individual | Pro | Essentials |
| API access availability | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Bulk send capability | Included | Add-on | Included | Included | Add-on |
| Document templates included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team administration features | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |